Electric heater for crank cases



a 1,627, 64 May 10,1927. J. LOPER 5 ELECTRIC HEATER FOR CRANK CASESFiled March 27. 1925 FIGJ l il

Patented May 10, 1927.

STATES PATENT OFFE.

ELECTRIC HEATER FOR CRANK CASEEE.

Application filed March 27, 1925. Serial No. 1%,814.

My invention relates to improvements in an electrical heating device,forheating the oil in the crank case of the internal combustion engine,in an automobile.

The important objects of the invention are to provide for the correctamount of resistance; the proper heating of the oil, with the smallconsumption of current: and to provide a device of the above mentionedcharac ter which may be used witha 6 or 12 volt battery. v v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will he a parent duringthe course of the following escription.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame.

Figure l is a side elevation of the heater,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section through the same, and,

Figure '3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the crankcase of an internal combustion engine. I drill a hole 6 through thecrank case 5, preferably below the oil level. The heater embodies apreferably cylindrical tubular bodyportion 7, formed of metal, such asiron or any other suitable material. One end of this tubular bodyportion is screw-threaded, as shown at 8, for engagement with acontact-cap 9, preferably formed of brass. The opposite end of thetubular body portion 7 is also screw-threaded for engagement with areducer or coupling 10, having its outer end internally screwthrcadedfor receiving a bushing 11. The

tubular body portion 7 passes through the opening 6 and a flange 12engages the inner wall of the crank case. while the reducer or coupling10 engages the outer wall. The tubular body portion 7 is grounded to thecrank case, as is obvious.

The bushing 11 may be adjusted longi-v tudinally with respect to thereducer or coupling 10, by turning the bushing therein, and this bushingcarries a tubular. insulator 13,

having a shoulder i l, engaging the inner end of'the bushing ll, asshown. This insulatin'p: sleeve is preferably formed oi? porcelain, andreceives a contact elementlh, passin therethrougzh. This contactelernentis pretcrably formed of brass. The contact element 15 is provided at itsinner end with a head 16, while its outer end is screwthrcaded. forengagement with a nut 17, by means of which the contact element may heclamped to the insulating sleeves The head 16 is provided with a conicalor beveled recess l8, for receiving the conical. or beveled end 19, of aresistance-element E20. formedof-carbon. The opposite end 21 of thisresistance element is conical orbeveled, and tits within a conical orbeveled recess 22, formed in the contact cap 9.

An important feature of the invention is the use of the carbonresistance element 20, with the conical or beveled ends, engaging withinthe conical or beveled recesses of the contact elements 15 and 9. Thispermits of the proper regulation of the current, and the properregulation of the resistance.

In operation, the element 15 has electrical connection with one side ofasource of current. the opposite side of which is grounded to the crankcase 5. It is thus seen that. when the circuit is closed, the currentwill pass through the resistance element 20.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing fromvthe spirit of my in vcntion or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An electrical heater comprising a tubular body portion having itsopposite ends threaded. said tubular body portion being provided with aflange near one threaded end, a contact cap engaging): one threaded endof the tubular body portion and having electrical contact therewith andprovided with a conical recess, a tubular coupling engaging the oppositethreaded end of the tubular body portion and adapted to clamp the same aSEPPQMB emengei nehveen it and said a Benshing having screwthreadetlengagel em within the outer end 0f @he ceupiing and longitudinallyedg'zgstable therein, a \tnbuinr insulator carried; Within the bushing,a comment eiement arranged zubnfiar insulator anCk having a,

' umen eenieal recess, and; n carbon resistance element extendinglongitudinally Within the tuibnlar body portion and having conical enclsengaging within the conical recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAY H. LOPER.

